In a recurring feature, The Wake Weekly looks back at what happened this week throughout the years.

1835

•The following passage was written by a Wake Forest College student on the 60th Independence Day celebration, July 4, 1835:
“With gallantry worthy of the most refined days of chivalry, the Societies (Euzealean and Philomathesian) marched and counter-marched on either side of the fair ones who were formed into a procession.
“On reaching the dining room, the standard bearers draped their silken banners over the door that the young ladies might pass beneath them. After dinner, the young people were allowed an hour or two in the grove with a feast of raisins and a flow of lemonade, also prunes and almonds.”
—Entry submitted by Ed Morris, executive director of the Wake Forest Historical Museum. Students gathered in societies before fraternal organizations became popular on college campuses.

Louisburg farmers Ricky May, left, and Stuart May, show off their quality tobacco crop in this 1993 Beth Tatum photo.

1943

•A street dance is planned by the Wake Forest College student council. If town commissioners allow, it will take place on Main Street at 9 p.m. and feature juke box music.
•More than a dozen Wake Forest College students were disciplined for hazing and breaking and entering and damaging windows of several homes while gaining access as part of a student hazing ritual. Homes entered belonged to Dr. W.E. Speas and Randolph Benton.
It was the first incidence of hazing at the college since its founding. The charges were brought because the freshmen were forced to participate against their will. Those found guilty are on probation; if another hazing attempt occurs, it will be punishable by expulsion.
The source for the above entry is online archives of the Wake Forest University newspaper, Old Gold & Black.

The congregation at Wake Forest United Methodist Church conducted a Bless the Pets service in this 1993 Bob Allen photo. Melissa Wadford brought her Boston terrier to be blessed.

1963

•A “rock party” is planned for local children at the Wake Forest College Birthplace. The purpose of the party is to pick up rocks on the lot so the grass can be cut. Refreshments will be served.
•Playing at the Forest Theatre, a triple feature, Blood of the Vampire, Curse of the Werewolf and Horror of Dracula.

1973

•A mistake during the first-ever Wake Forest fireworks show at Groves Stadium caused 40 rockets to go off at once. Though spectacular, it caused the program to be much shorter, and some attendees were disappointed. No one was injured. The light attendance in the July 4 parade was what got Henry Barnes down. He and other folks said they enjoyed the event and hope it is repeated.

1983

•A Camp Kanata activity bus collided with a motor home on N.C. 98 at Camp Kanata Road, seriously injuring the motor home’s passenger and hurting 25 others to a lesser degree. Faulty brakes were to blame for the wreck, which involved 52 campers and three counselors who were on their way to a water park in Garner. Seven campers were injured, none seriously.
•Wake Forest has lost its fifth police officer in six months. Past complaints have centered on low officer pay. Starting salaries are $11,600, whereas for the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, it’s $13,600.
Furthermore, some officers who have been with the department for a longer time who started at $8,000 or $9,000, and have received raises, may only make what starting officers are paid.

1993

•A bill to merge Franklinton and Franklin County school systems has cleared its last hurdle in the General Assembly. A number of amendments had been proposed, including more than one by Rep. Billy Creech to make the county’s board of education election non-partisan. The next step is getting the sign-off from the U.S. Justice Department.
•Live cable coverage of the Wake Forest town board is set to begin. The town’s local cable access Channel 5 will carry the meetings. The cameras’ control board will be operated by a Wake Forest Chamber of Commerce representative. The chamber helped obtain funding to televise the meetings.
•Greg Bartholomew has nearly finished restoring an historic house once slated for demolition by the town of Wake Forest. The late 1800s house was occupied by the Reid, Purefoy and Williams families as well as by T.E. Holding. During the 1940s it was turned into five apartments for students at Wake Forest College. Bartholomew had the 2,120-square-foot house moved from East Jones Avenue to 523 Wait Ave. In the four years since, Bartholomew has renovated the home, putting thousands of hours of TLC into the project, along with the help of friends and family.

2003

•Stephen Barrington has thrown in his hat to run for Wake Forest town board during the first week of filing. Also filing was Jenny Edwards, for the position of Franklinton mayor. Barrington has served as economic development director for the town’s chamber of commerce. Edwards is the former chair of the Franklin county Democratic Party.
The source for above entries is print archives of The Wake Weekly.